Climate Change Adaptation Planning in British Columbia: A Case Study Investigation of Ecosystem Management in Mount Robson Provincial Park

Introduction

This case study examines challenges of ecosystem management in Mount Robson Provincial Park in the context of the potential for climate change. Compass Resource Management Ltd., in collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Climate Studies, was contracted by the Climate Change Section of the British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Water, Land and Air to undertake a case study to examine how climate adaptation planning could be done for Mount Robson Provincial Park. The Park is an area of nearly 220,000 hectares, lying on the west slope of the Rocky Mountains along the Alberta-BC border. The intent of the project was to apply a structured framework for identifying and treating the risk and uncertainty associated with decisions where climate change may be a significant factor. The project also sought to test the suitability of the framework and approach for potential future use on a wider basis within the Ministry and BC.

This case study looks at two distinct, but related Structured Decision Making (SDM) processes for Mount Robson Provincial Park. The first SDM process can be characterized as the requirement to manage long term forest ecosystem and disturbance regimes within the Park in the context of climate change. The second SDM process is a prescribed fire options assessment exercise undertaken in a workshop setting by the Mount Robson Ecosystem Working Group. The purpose of the exercise was to identify, evaluate, and prioritize sites within the Park that are suitable for prescribed burning. This case study also identfies lessons that can be learned from the case study of climate change adaptation planning in Mount Robson Provincial Park.

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